Comments on: F1 links: Trulli still hopes for Toyota drive

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:50:00 +0000

Trulli can hope all he wants, but after causing that crash yesterday, and after the way Kobayashi drove (considering he had virtually no time behind the wheel before that race), he’s done. The only way Trulli is driving a Toyota next year is if he goes down to a dealership and buys a new Avensis.

By: The Limit

The Limit — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:33:23 +0000

Its been a while since we’ve seen two F1 drivers almost coming to blows by the side of the race track following a crash, but my sympathy was more towards Alonso and Sutil than Jarno Trulli.
In many ways, Fernando should have been the most aggrieved of all three men, as he was just an innocent victim of that mess. The fact remains, that Trulli is one of F1’s most experienced drivers, yet made a rookie error in trying to pass Sutil.
As soon as the Toyota driver put his wheels on the rain soaked turf, there was only going to be one outcome. He defended this by suggesting that Sutil should have given him more room, but the German had the racing line and was always going to position his car that way.
I seriously doubt that Trulli’s bosses at Toyota would have missed that on the replays afterwards either, and with Kobayashi’s performance, the crash came at the worst possible moment for Jarno.
What we must take into consideration is that new drivers in F1, lacking test mileage and experience, are now being asked to do almost minor miracles. If a driver does not deliver almost instant success in their first season, their time in an F1 car becomes in almost immediate doubt.
You only have to look at the likes of Bourdais and Piquet Jnr as recent examples. I agree that this has always, to an extent, been the case, but I do believe the problem has become more acute during recent times.
Teams now expect every new, GP2 blooded racer, to become the next Lewis Hamilton, and that is simply not possible.
The outcome, which is good for us fans, is that new drivers such as Sutil, Beumi, and Kobayashi know that they have no safety net to catch them if they fail.
They have to deliver, not in five years or ten, but right now! With every team counting the pennies, these drivers cannot hide mediocre performances anymore, and walk away with huge salaries like they used to. Times are changing!

By: Steph90

Steph90 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:26:07 +0000

Nice to hear about Fernando and UNICEF.
I liked Kobs race at Brazil, but I won’t get carried away as it was just one race. I think Trulli to Lotus will happen, Toyota won’t keep him.

By: schumi the greatest

schumi the greatest — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:40:52 +0000

Achilles,

even as a huge schumi fan i manage to take an objective opinion of his career. Yes he ran the rules very close to the line…and occasionly he did step over the line. But you cant tell me he wasnt immensley talented, thats why he was ushered into benetton after 1 race with jordan (hardly a race not even a lap of his first gp but that was the impact). Senna had already recognised him as the new challenger to his supremacy.

To me though if you want to see the best of michael schumacher look at his 1st 3 seasons with ferrari. A car not on the pace of the williams/mclaren in 98, and the proof of that is irvine’s performance at the same time. But he was till winning races and regaulrly out performing the car, when ferrair eventually had the best car, it was inevitbale he would walk it, but you cant blame him for being the best driver out there.

Hungary 98 is a classic example of his ability, ross brawns now infamous radio transmission (you need 25 seconds in 17 laps) he did just that, you tell me who else in the modern era could have done that? In a car that was off the pace in qualifying by 1/2 a second?

There was a rather sinister side to his character but you look at all the greats in anay sport and you’ll often see similarities, often pushing the rules too far. Schumacher got all of ferrari round him, but thats what they brought him there for, to win the championship and he did all in his power to make sure that happened.

I understand why some people dont like him, but you cant deny the immense talent he had as a driver, and any expert working/reporting in f1 will say the same

By: schumi the greatest

schumi the greatest — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:38:56 +0000

Achilles,

I understand why some people dont like him, but you cant deny the immense talent he had as a driver, and any expert working in f1 will say the same

By: Achilles

Achilles — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:29:51 +0000

Every time i hear Shcumi praised for his abilities, it allways reminds me of the many ways his team[s] contrived to make that possible, vetoes, illicit traction control etc Button has not been a great driver in my opinion, but apart from contractgate, and leadshotgate, he appears to have deserved this one…

By: schumi the greatest

schumi the greatest — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:45:50 +0000

that interview with brawn is very intresting. I think many times commenting on this site ive tried to explain the same thing as brawn has done so brilliantly there.

Button is at his best when the car is 100% to his liking and if its not his performance fades quite alot.

Compare that to schumacher who would just find a way to drive round the problem, often by throwing the car into corners and using incredible car control to keep it out of the gravel. Hamilton and alonso have this quality (witness alonso’s 08 season and hamilton this season)

But when button has the car 100% ti his liking he is very hard to contend with.

By: sato113

sato113 — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:17:00 +0000

doubt trulli will stay at toyota after Kobyashi’s brilliant performance.